WITH the National Aquatic Centre, the new swimming facility at Liliendaal being in operation, the sport Water Polo will be resuscitated. It was last played in Guyana at the Luckhoo Swimming Pool in the 80s. This information was given when Chronicle Sport visited the facility to have a look at the sport being demonstrated by a group of 20 swimmers including coaches Nicholas Fraser, Damion Pilgrim, Andrew King and David Gomes.
They displayed the basics of the game as they prepare to restart competition.
Fraser expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Government for providing the facility to improve the level of swimming in Guyana and more so to aid in the revamping of a number of water-related sports, which had to be put on the back burner because of the smaller facility that was available.
He noted that the resuscitation of this sport will see exchange programmes and tournaments as well as developmental programmes which will be geared towards improving and uplifting the game.
He indicated that there is to be a special educational programme, to have the sport introduced to the local swimmers and other interested persons since the initiative is to form water polo clubs for local competition.
Members of the group are currently going through the paces as they prepare for their first exposure in the game in August, when they face Suriname in a home-and-away tournament.
The game is played in a 30m x 25m area with two floating goals measuring three metres wide by one metre high. Each side has seven players with one being the goalkeeper.
The duration is four seven-minute segments with one-minute rest at the first and third quarters and three minutes at the half.
Sessions will continue on Tuesday afternoon where interested persons are invited to be a part at the Aquatic Centre.